Wetlands in the river delta plains: evolution, values and functions during the Roman times. The coastal landscape close to the Garigliano river mouth

Abstract

The Garigliano plain between Lazio and Campania in Italia has been characterized until recently by an alternation of swamps or marshlands and well drained areas due to the presence of old beach ridges. The settlement system and the economy of the region were influenced by these geomorphological and hydrological conditions. The Garigliano plain, compared with other similar river-delta plains, has some particularities that make it a good case of study. The wetlands were described by ancient Greek and Latin authors with a lot of details that allow us to have a richer picture of the marshes during the Roman time. We analyzed all the available data with a multidisciplinary approach that combines the typical geoarchaeological analysis (archaeology, topography, geomorphology and paleobotany) with the literary sources. In this way we could show that wetlands were not really marginals zones because they had a specific function as much in religious life that in economic activities.